Fence-post.



Patehted on. 30, 1900. A. BEITENOUR.

F E N C E P 0 S T (Application filed Mar. 28, 1900.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANTHONY REITENOUR, OF DEERFIELD, INDIANA.

FENCE- POST.

SPEC IFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 660,657, dated October 30, 1900. Application filed March 28,1900, sermmlotzo. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTHONY REITENoUE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Deerfield, in the county of Randolph and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Fence-Post, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in fence-posts.

One object of the present invention is to improve the construction of sheet-metal fenceposts and to provide a simple, strong, and durable one adapt-ed to be securely anchored in the ground and capable of having fence wires or boards readily attached to it.

A further object of the invention is to enable such fence post to be constructed of suflicient strength to be advantageously employed as a hitching-post and to provide a convenient means for attaching a hitchingstrap to it.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fence-post constructed in accordance with this invention and arranged for supporting horizontal fence-wires. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal sectional view of the same, showing one form of wire tie for connecting the fence-wires to the post. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing another form of tie. Fig. 4 is an elevation of a modified form of the fencepost, showing the same arranged to receive both fence wires and boards. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the same.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawlngs.

1 designates a fence-post constructed of sheet metal, preferably galvanized sheet-steel, and composed of two sides 2, arranged at an angle to each other and formed by bending the sheet metal centrally. The sheet metal, which is provided with a longitudinal bend or fold, tapers in width to provide a tapering fence-post, and the longitudinal edges of the sheet metal are rolled and extended inward to form hollow ribs 3, which may be triangular in cross-section, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, or round or cylindrical, as shown at 4 in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, or any other form of rib may be provided, either hollow or practically solid.

The inwardly-extending ribs 3 converge from the bottom to the top of the post, and the latter is provided with an approximately triangular bottom 5, forming an anchor and extending across the space inclosed by the sides and ribs, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The bottom 5 is composed of two extensions or portions 6 and 7, formed integral with the sides of the post and bent inward and overlapped, as shown in Fig. 1, the overlapped portions being perforated for the reception of a rivet 8 or other suitable fastening device. The upper portion or section 6 of the bottom extends from one side of the post to the other, and it forms a brace for the lower end of the post to prevent the same from collapsing.

The top of the post is supported by a transverse connecting rod or piece 8, having depending extensions 9, which are arranged within the hollow tubular inwardly-extending ribs, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The transverse connecting rod or piece 8 prevents the sides from collapsing at the top of the post, and it is spaced from the back of the same and is adapted to receive a hitching-- strap, whereby the latter may be readily tied or otherwise fastened to the post.

The sides of the fence-post are provided at intervals with perforations 10 for the reception of wire ties 11 for securing horizontal fence-wires 12 to the post. The perforations are located adjacent to the converging inwardly-extending ribs, between the same and the angle formed by the sides, preferably at points contiguous to the inner edges or portions of the ribs, and the wire tie may be of any desired construction. In Figs. 1 and 2 one form of tie is illustrated, and the wire of which the tie is constructed is extended across the post, as shown at 13 in Fig. 2, and the end portions of the wire are looped around the ribs 3 and are coiled around the fencewire. The loops 14 embrace the ribs, and the coils 15 are located at opposite sides of the fence-post. When the wire ties are arranged as shown in Fig. 2, the fence-wires are firmly bound to the post at opposite sides thereof. In Fig. 3 of the drawings is illustrated another form of wire tie. This tie 16 consists of a Wire passed through the perforations of the fence-post and around the exterior of the same, the terminals 17 of the wire being coiled around the horizontal fence-wire at opposite sides of the post.- The form of the tie may be readily changed, and separate ties may be provided for each side of the fence-post.

In Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings a fence-post is shown having means for enabling boards to be secured to it. The inwardly-extending ribs 4 are shown coiled or rolled into cylindrical form, and the upper portion of the fen ce-post is perforated for the reception of ties 18 for securing fence-wires to the said post. The lower portion of the post is provided with a wooden core 19, disposed longitudinally of the post and interlocked with, the inwardly extending ribs thereof at a point between the top and bottom of the post, whereby the core may be readily removed from and replaced in the post when it is arranged at the bottom there-' of, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 4. The wooden core 19 is provided with an enlarged inner portion 20, and its outer portion extends through the space between the converging ribs and is provided with a vertical outer face adapted. to receive fencing-boards. After the enlarged portion 20 of the core is introduced into the lower portion of the fencepost it is moved upward and engaged with the sides. The enlarged portion 20 is provided with angularly-disposed rear faces conforming to the configuration of the sides of the fence-post, and projecting portions or ribs extend from opposite sides of the core and engage the ribs of the fence-post, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. When the fence-post is planted in the ground, the lower portion, between the bottom 5 and the lower end of the core, is filled with earth, which supports the said core, and the said bottom 5 forms an eflicient anchor for holding the fence-post in the ground. The boards or other material used for fencing may be nailed or otherwise fastened to the outer face of the wooden core.

It will be seen that the fence-post is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, that it is strong and durable, and that it is firmly anchored in the ground by the bottom, which is formed by the inwardlybent overlapped extensions or portions of the sides. It will also be apparent that the post is supported at its lower end by the said bottom and at its top by the transverse rod or connecting-piece 8 and that it forms an efficient means for enabling a hitching-strap to be secured to the post. Furthermore, it will be clear that the fencepost is adapted to receive either wires or boards and that the wooden core is detachably interlocked with the sides of the post.

What is claimed is 1. A fence-post constructed of sheet metal and composed of sides provided attheir longitudinal edges with ribs formed by bending the sheet metal, and a connecting-piece extending across the post and having side portions arranged within the ribs, substantially as described.

2. A fence-post constructed of sheet metal and comprising sides arranged at an angle and having their longitudinal edges extended inward and forming ribs, a bottom composed of extensions of the sides bent inward, and a connecting-piece extending across the top of the post and having depending portions arranged within the ribs, substantially as described.

3. A fence-post composed of sides provided with longitudinal ribs converging toward one end of the post, and a removable core arranged within the post and detachably interlocked with the ribs or flanges and adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from the same by moving it longitudinally of the post,

substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. A fence-post comprising sides arranged at an angle and provided with inwardly-extending ribs converging toward one end of the post, and a core having an enlarged inner portion arranged between the sides and interlocked with the ribs of the post, said core being shorter than the post, whereby it is adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from the same, by longitudinal movement, substantially as described.

5. A fence-post constructed of sheet metal and composed of sides arranged at an angle to each other and having their edges extended inward to form longitudinal ribs, said sides being provided in rear of the ribs with perforations,and the wire ties passing through the perforations of the sides of the post and encircling the ribs and adapted to engage fence-wires, substantially as described.

6. A fence-post constructed of sheet metal and composed of sides disposed at an angle and having their longitudinal edges extended inward to form ribs, said sides being perforated in rear of the ribs, and wire ties passing through the perforations and extending across the fence-post, the terminals of the ties being coiled around the ribs and around the fence-wires, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

I ANTHONY REITEN OUR.

Witnesses:

JOHN F. LAFOLLETTE, OSCAR H. ADAIR. 

